Offensive players are expected to dominate the top half of the first round of the NFL Draft, but Michael David Smith explains that there are still plenty of defensive standouts to be had. Here are his profiles of the defensive players likely to be chosen in the first two rounds, reprinted from Wednesday's New York Sun.

It's been said many times that the 2005 draft class lacks "star power." But to Russell Levine, that just makes it more interesting. In this article reprinted from Tuesday's New York Sun, he previews the offensive players whose names you're likely to hear called on day one.

The Texans still have a porous offensive line. The Colts sit out free agency again. Donovan Darius is trying to get off the Jags, while Marcus Stroud is staying for a while. The Titans may be in a perfect position to trade on draft day. All this plus a look at Tennessee's big free agent catch, Kyle Vanden Bosch, in this AFC South edition of Four Downs.

As a consolation prize for having the worst record in the NFL last season, the San Francisco 49ers get to enjoy the first pick in next weekend's NFL draft. But is the first pick really such a great thing to have? In this article reprinted from Friday's New York Sun, Michael David Smith tells us about two business school professors who say that the answer to that question is an emphatic "no," and explains why the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is, in fact, 43. Ed. note: For some reason this study is getting a lot of press today, and I have gotten a couple emails about it, so I wanted to point out that we wrote about it back in April.

Reader Ian Hollohan will be providing bi-weekly NFL Europe reports for us, focusing on players who we may see in the NFL next year as well as games we can watch here on American television. In his first report, we learn that minor league football is in fact sloppy, and that Denver may have yet another running back prospect.

The Giants are getting younger, the Cowboys aren't doing much of anything, and everyone in Washington and Philadelphia is complaining. Join Al Bogdan as he takes a look around the NFC East in the latest edition of Four Downs.

It was the best of times (Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper), it was the worst of times (Akili Smith and Cade McNown), it was the age of wisdom (Bill Polian taking Edgerrin James), it was the age of foolishness (Mike Ditka in dreadlocks). It was the 1999 NFL draft, and we review it today.

Time to take a look at the draft needs of the AFC East. The Patriots and Jets have specific needs, the Bills could use general depth, and the Dolphins could use an extra ten or twenty draft picks. Aaron also goes over recent draft history, looks at receivers similar to David Terrell, and plays that game that's sweeping the nation, or at least the New York Metropolitan Area: Guaranteed RB Decline Trivia.

The Chiefs are courting Patrick Surtain, the Broncos are stockpiling former Browns linemen (can Michael Dean Perry be far behind?), Antonio Gates is angling for a new contract, Will Shields is pondering retirement, the Raiders are signing spare parts, and Chiefs defenders are grousing. Four Downs takes a tour of the AFC West with Mike Tanier.

For an 11-5 team, the Falcons sure have made a lot of changes. Maybe they've been reading Football Outsiders and know they really weren't that good last year. In other NFC South news in the latest edition of Four Downs, the Panthers sure do draft well and the Saints and Bucs sure don't. Plus, who on the Frankfurt Galaxy caught the author's eye?